Feeding mechanism for buttonhole-sewing machines.



No. 862,125. PATENTBD AUG. 6, 1907.

E.'B. ALLEN. I

FEEDING MEGHANISM FOR BUTTONHOLE SEWING MACHINES. APPLIUATION FILED umso, 1905.

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110.362,12). i PATBNTED AUG.6,`1907.

E. B. ALLEN. FBEDING MBGHANISM POR BUTTONHOLE SEWING MAGHINBS.

.PPLIGATION FILED SEPT. 30, 1905. I

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the action 'of the dogs 17, sul l: wheel is provided with a peripheral groove in which `is disposed thev usual friction `band 30 comprising two substantially semicircular parts connected at one end by a spring 31 and at the 5 other en d by a bolt 32 securing the same also to a lug 33 attached to the bottom of the bed-plate to prevent thev movementof such friction lo ind With the feed-Wheel.

The detaining clutch-dog?r 34 is provided with an enlarged operative endmportion provided with a notch 35 tri-embrace the flange 19 of the feed-wheel 20, its free outer end resting in contact With a stud 36 depending from the bed-plate' and carrying a guard plate 37 provided With studsereyv 38 serving as an abutment for the iree end of a flatspring 39 whose opposite end is iastened by means, of ai'screw 40 to the outer endet' thc clutch-dog 34, by means o' which spring the e1utchdog is maintained continuously in cramping relation with the feed-wheel flange 19, the clutch-dog 34 being prevented Arom movement under the retrograde tendency of the ieecLWheel by its contact with the stud 36. In the operation of the device, the actuating lever 13 is given its usual vibrating movements by means o the described connections with the crank 5 upon the main shaft, the amplitude of Such movements being controlled by the relation ol' the link 4l l. with such member,

and the operative engagement ol the shoulders 1G of the. hub 14 'with the inner ends el the clutch-dogs l7 produces a cramping action of the latter upon the feed- Wheel flange ll) in a manner well-known.

Herotoiore, in machines o this class, retracting springs have been employed to return the clutch-dogs to initial position after each action upon the iced-wheel,

I but such expedient was attimes objectionable because they failed to perform their normal function when the provides a 'yielding connection between them serving.

to rcadilytake up any slight wear ot' the parts While 50. maintaining the operative cramping relition between the clutch-dogs an iced-wheel flange. Tlfeepplication of the buller springs 28 to their respective clutchdogs is particularly advantageous 4in that` they con-` stantly maintainth'eir relation with the clutchTdogs 55 regardless ofthewcar of the parte, which is providedifer.

i' in the present 'improvement by' the screws 2li adapted l'to be advanced frorn---time totime to maintain the' et? 'fective operation entire-mechanism.

It is evident that,` .by` a sufficiently close adjustment '59 :of the points of thc'contact screws 2 6Vto the operativeV ends of the'clutches 17 theebulfer springs might be dispensed \vith,"the relative playml the parts involved beingnappreciable `when the adjustment is pmperly made for such operation; and it will also no seen that,

i 4"/65 although very desirable, the adjustability of the opgrip oi the dogs upon the llangc 19 was prevented by erative ends of the retracting arms 24 is'not necessaryv to the practical working of thedevice, and that such feature, even when employed, may be secured-by other` i'. means which will readily suggest themselves Without the use of the lspecific expedient herein described. As lrepresented in Fig. 6, the jaws ofthe clutch-dogs formed by the notches l18 are preferably recessed or cut away intermediate their ends to afford short operative faces so as to enable them to perform their cramping action more effectively,l especially after they become some-- l what Worn by long use. i

While the feeding mechanism is herein represented as involving a rotary feeding, member 20 actuated by means oi feed-dogs reciprocating in a circular path, it is obvious that thel particular character oi the eeding member and direction of reciprocation o its actuating iced-dogs are not material elements of the present improvement. It will therefore be understood that, While the improvement is herein disclosed in its prev errcd'form, it is not to be understood aslimited to the.`85. specific features of construction andarrangement of' parts herein disclosed,` but the same maybe considerably varied without departing lfrom the spirit of the invention.

Having thus set forth the nature of the invention, what I claim herein is,-

l, ln' n sewing machine, the combination with stitch- Vfoi-mine' mechanism and a relatively movnblework holder, of a feed-wheel for producing the relative movements between the work-holder and the stitch-forium., niechnnism. a reciprocating feed-actuating lever, a clutch-dog engaging said feedwlnel und deriving its operative movements from said actuating: lever', a follower' rigidly connected with said actuating.: lever und provided with un operative portion extended into the path of movement of said elutcltdog and 'adjustable toward and from the same for insuring the return of the latter to initial position after each of its opera'tive movements, and means inter` 'posed between said follower' and clutch-dog; for yieldlngly tween the worlcliolder und the stitch-formlng mechanism, 110

:i reciprocating feed-actuating lever, a-c'lutch-dog engaging said feed-wheel and dervihg; its operative movements from said :ustnnlzinf:v leveiga spring v`buffer carried by saidl clutch dog und `disposed upon the side thereot which-iis in 'udvnnce during' its forward or operative movements, :L15 und n follower rigidly connected with said actuating lever and provided with an adjustable abutment disposed in line with suid clutch-din.,r und the springvbutler carried thereby and adapted to engage thelaiter.

3. In a sewing machine, the combination with stitch- 12h foi-ming mcclmuism .and a relatively-movable Work-holdei', of a feed-wheel flor producing the relative movements lbetween the work-holdei-iniid the stltch--forrntng mech- "anlsm, u reciprocating'feed-actuating lever-,'41 clutehfdeg between the work-holder and the s'titchsformrlg lunchen'n ism. a reciprocating feed-actuating lever= aclutli-dog engaging said feed-wheel and deriving its operative inve'-v ments from said actuating lever, nn arm rlgidlylicbrinected c ngigl'ng` said feed-wheel nndderiving its operative moire?` 125i resented to the atter, audaf nat buffer spririg applied et' a eedovheel lor producing the relative movements'135 at one end with said actuating lever une ,nuviued :1t the other end with a split screw socket. au adjusting screw litted to said screw socket substantially in the with of movement o1" said clutch-dog with its point presented to the lutter, und n fastening screw for clamping seid Socket upon the adjusting screw. v

5. In :L sewing machine, the combination with stitch forming mechanism and o. relatively-movable work-holder, of :L fced-wheel provided with an annular clutch-engaging portion and adapted for producing the relative move-- ments between the work-holder and the stitchorming' mechanism, means including' a reciprocating clutch-member for imparting' step-by-step rotary movements to said feed-earn, a "secizionai friction band emMmmg said feedcnm, and comprising a tension spring with means for adjusting the tension of the same, and an independent springqiressed holding-dog adapted to engage the clutchngaging portion of said feed-Wheel for preventing retrograde movement of the latter.

ln testimony whereof, i have signed my naine to this specification, in the presence of two subscribing Witnesses.

EDWARD B. ALLEN. Witnesses z HENRY J. MILLER, HnNRy A. KORNEMANN. 

